Neighbor to Neighbour: Strengthening Cross-Border Ties

PNWER has been on the road the past few months, meeting with legislative leaders, industry representatives and government officials as part of our mission to strengthen cross-border ties and address key priorities that impact our shared region. This quarter’s blog captures highlights from our recent travels, details our progress on USMCA/CUSMA and outlines opportunities to join our upcoming efforts.

State and Federal Capital Visits 
U.S. and Canadian PNWER delegates have just wrapped up a series of five visits to Ottawa, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington as part of ongoing conversations between regional and federal leaders. The Montana legislature isn’t sitting this year, but we remain in close contact with the state’s elected officials. As part of our mandate to foster greater regional cooperation, hosting these in-person, cross-border meetings are essential in ensuring that leaders from both nations have dedicated time to engage and build lasting relationships with counterparts in their neighboring jurisdictions. By facilitating these discussions, we’re better able to bridge the gap across borders, enhance regional partnerships and drive long-term economic growth and innovation across the region. 

U.S. States
Visiting Canadian Delegates
PNWER U.S. state capital visits wouldn’t be complete without the participation of our Canadian delegates, who contributed valuable perspectives on economic development opportunities and emerging issues, and shaped discussions around international collaboration within our region. The Canadian delegation included:

• MP Parm Bains, Member of Parliament representing British Columbia 
• PS Paul Choi, British Columbia
• MLA Brandon Lunty, Alberta 
• MLA Garth Rowswell, Alberta
• MLA Justin Wright, Alberta
• MLA Travis Keisig, Saskatchewan, and current PNWER President
• Andrew Bennet, Government of Alberta
• Andrew Fisher, Government of Alberta
• Scott Hunter, Government of Saskatchewan

Key Themes

• Trade: ​The U.S-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA) emerged as the most important issue in each state we visited. Between its support of cross-border agriculture, manufacturing, energy and forestry supply chains, the USMCA underpins trade economies and supports millions of jobs across the region. Numerous policymakers and agency leaders emphasized the importance of extending the trilateral agreement come July, when all three countries join to determine whether it should stay in place for the next 16 years. 

 

• Supply Chains & Economic Corridors: Across conversations with legislative and agency leadership, the delegation discussed the region’s interdependent supply chains. Infrastructure upgrades to railways, highways, ports and border crossings have potential to strengthen efficiency for the sectors that rely on reliable cross-border freight movement. This was a key topic of discussion in Idaho with a focus on the importance of inland ports like the Port of Lewiston and the critical connections to these facilities to improve supply chains.  Continued coordination and improvement across all modes of transportation is needed to increase exports. PNWER was recently named to receive $1 million in congressionally directed research funding to develop a regional supply chain enhancement and export development strategy. We look forward to providing more information on this exciting program in the coming months.

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• Energy & Critical Minerals: Energy was a consistent topic in meetings across the region, reflecting its role in economic growth, reliability and cross-border trade. In Alaska, the delegation’s discussions focused heavily on critical minerals opportunities, given the state’s natural resources potential. Leaders discussed ways to strengthen mineral supply chain infrastructure and how Alaska and the other states can better coordinate with our western Canadian provinces and territories. Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories and Yukon recently signed an MOU to develop a shared critical minerals strategy. These conversations led PNWER to pursue congressionally directed spending in late February to develop a critical minerals supply chain strategy for Alaska and neighboring jurisdictions to work more closely with our regional partners.

Ottawa 
PNWER leadership and delegates from Alberta, Montana, Saskatchewan and Yukon visited Ottawa in late February to amplify regional priorities and deepen connections with federal leaders. 

PNWER’s primary focus in Ottawa was the review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement (CUSMA). The delegation had a productive conversation with the U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra about the agreement’s role in securing supply chains, investment and job development on both sides of the border and the importance of the agreement to a stable regional economy. The delegation also met with the Hon. Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agrifood, to discuss Canada-U.S. agriculture trade, cross border supply chains and the importance of CUSMA to the agriculture sector. Similarly, PNWER had conversations with PacifiCan Minister Gregor Robertson about working with western Canadian partners to highlight key priorities for the region related to trade, tourism and economic development. 

Additional meetings with dozens of Members of Parliament and Senators, including the Canada-U.S. Interparliamentary Group, along with ministerial and agency leaders from Global Affairs Canada, PacifiCan, PrairiesCan, Natural Resources Canada and the Privy Council Office underscored the value of continued cross-border engagement on both the federal and regional levels.

Extending USMCA 
During PNWER’s visit to Olympia, PNWER and Washington Lt. Governor Denny Heck hosted a roundtable with key leaders from the public and private sectors where the importance of USMCA/CUSMA to Washington state and Western Canada was reaffirmed. The message was clear: This trade relationship is critically important in sustaining a thriving Pacific Northwest economy. 

Participants heard keynote remarks from Congressman Rick Larsen, Governor Bob Ferguson, Member of Parliament Parm Bains, and the Consuls General from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. You can watch a recording of the meeting streamed on TVW here. 

Following the roundtable, the Washington Senate and House of Representatives adopted complementary resolutions recognizing the economic and cultural ties between Washington state and Canada. 

• House Resolution 4705, adopted March 2, echoes the importance of the trading relationship between Washington, Canada and Mexico. 
• Senate Resolution 8696, adopted February 25, underscores the shared economic prosperity enjoyed by Washingtonians and Canadians from integrated supply chains and thriving maritime, technology, farming and forestry industries. 

The Alaska legislature is also considering a resolution that supports the continuation of the USMCA. Senate Joint Resolution 25 was heard during a February 23 Senate Labor and Commerce Committee meeting, during which PNWER’s Director of Program Management Steve Myers delivered testimony in favor of the resolution during the hearing. Watch the hearing here. 

PNWER hosted a roundtable discussion on USMCA with members of the PNWER Idaho State Council, which is chaired by Lt. Governor Scott Bedke and includes directors and leaders from the state’s departments of agriculture, energy, transportation, emergency management, commerce, the Governor’s office, academia and private industry as well as legislators. Participants shared insights on the agreement’s role in Idaho’s robust trade relationship with Canada, particularly in the agricultural sector. PNWER later convened similar discussions with partners at Business Oregon and Oregon Department of Agriculture, who provided perspectives that will inform our ongoing strategy for engagement on the USMCA/CUSMA joint review. 

LEHI - Now Recruiting
The Legislative Energy Horizon Institute (LEHI) is recruiting participants for its 2026 cohort. Since 2009, LEHI has educated state and provincial legislators, policymakers and governors’ advisors on the North American energy infrastructure and delivery system. The program has graduated nearly 500 participants. 

The 2026 session will take place in Richland, WA, from July 10-14  and in Washington D.C., November 18-21. For more information on the program and eligibility, visit www.lehi.institute.

Tourism Workshops - FIFA
PNWER hosted an interactive FIFA border and tourism workshop, facilitated by InterVISTAS Consulting, in Vancouver, British Columbia in late February. The event was supported by funding from Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) and was a follow-on stakeholder discussion building upon sessions hosted by PNWER in May, June, July and November. 

Participants explored the following:

• Sharing Data and Scenario Mapping: Developing a profile of how travellers are expected to move in/out/around the region.

• Final Preparations Underway at the Border: Exploring new regulatory or process adjustments being made by border agencies to prepare for the World Cup.

• Engaging with Key Traveller Groups: Engaging effectively with specific fan groups and VIP travellers to help promote tourism and foreign direct investment in the region.

• Border Resilience: Reviewing risks ahead of the World Cup.

The workshops complement PNWER’s work to develop an AI traveller information portal in collaboration with Future Borders Coalition and with funding from PacifiCan. Check out the Know Before You Go AI traveller portal here and on our new Explore-PNW.com tourism destination information hub. 

The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup will bring opportunities to modernize how visitors cross the Canada-U.S. border and create a long-term impact for tourism in BC, Washington and across our broader region. PNWER is committed to continuing the work begun here as we move beyond the World Cup.

Join the Conversation at PNWER’s Annual Summit
Registration is now open for PNWER’s 35th Annual Summit, scheduled for July 19-23, 2026 in Edmonton, Alberta! This year’s event will center on the region’s role as a gateway to growth and leader in cross-border cooperation, trade and innovation. Government, industry, association, Indigenous and academic leaders are invited to attend and collaborate on issues shaping the regional economy.

Key Themes:

• Economic Trade Corridors: Connecting Infrastructure, Trade and Security
• The Future Energy Economy: Technology, Trade, and Transformation
• From Land to Livelihood: Building a Resilient, Cross-Border Natural Resources Economy
• Innovation Acceleration: AI, Technology and the Future Workforce

Explore the preliminary agenda and secure your spot at www.pnwer.org/2026-summit.

Northwest Regional Summit on Aquatic Invasive Species
March 27, 2026 | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan or virtual
PNWER is partnering with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Trade and Export Development to host a workshop bringing together senior aquatic invasive species leaders from across the region to discuss effective strategies and emerging opportunities to prevent the spread of quagga and zebra mussels. 

Designed for elected officials, policymakers, operations, enforcement, parks, border screening and invasive species program management, the agenda emphasizes watercraft inspection best practices that reduce risk, enhance collaboration and strengthen regional readiness. 

Learn more and register at www.pnwer.org/invasive-species.  ​